An Israeli spyware company has been ordered to pay WhatsApp nearly $168 million (approximately €148 million) by a U.S. jury. The lawsuit revealed that the Israeli firm, NSO Group, exploited WhatsApp to install spyware on smartphones without users' knowledge.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, filed the lawsuit in 2019 after discovering that NSO Group's Pegasus spyware had been used to target over a thousand individuals. Pegasus can remotely activate cameras and microphones, track locations, and access photos and videos.
The spyware was installed via a vulnerability in WhatsApp, which the company later patched. While NSO claims its software is intended for combating terrorism and serious crime, it has also been used against journalists, activists, and politicians.
Meta has stated it plans to donate the awarded damages to organizations fighting spyware abuse. The legal battle is ongoing, with Meta seeking a permanent injunction to prevent NSO from targeting WhatsApp users in the future.